by our College Data Analytics Team
[Operations Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/operations-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong operations management education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for operations management students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the operations management degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in operations management, no school beat St Philips College this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,787 to complete the operations management program here. Early-career operations management graduates make about $45,185. That is a strong return on a $17,787 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in operations management will find it at San Antonio College, which ranked #2. San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $10,318 in student loans. Early-career operations management graduates make about $35,522. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Texas At Dallas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in operations management, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Dallas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,595, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. University Of North Texas At Dallas admits about 84% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lamar University earned it the #4 place for operations management. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,905 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,745. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Operations Management graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $52,678 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At El Paso earned it the #5 place for operations management. The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, compared with $25,502 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $16,437. Early-career operations management graduates make about $51,745. That is a strong return on a $16,437 median debt. The University Of Texas At El Paso admits about 100% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value operations management schools. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Students borrow a median of $19,747 to complete the operations management program here. Early-career operations management graduates make about $58,081. That is a strong return on a $19,747 median debt. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
Lone Star College System landed the #7 spot for operations management value this year. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. Students from in state pay about $2,664 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,512. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $13,593. Early-career operations management graduates make about $39,406. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At Tyler earned the #8 position for value in operations management this year. Located in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,512, compared with $24,512 for out-of-state students. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, operations management degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Tyler generally make around $66,826. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas came in at #9 for value in operations management this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. Students from in state pay about $11,309 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for operations management graduates is $21,500. Early-career operations management graduates make about $66,005. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #10 spot for operations management value this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $18,524 in student loans. Operations Management graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $64,891 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,524 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Western Technical College El Paso landed the #11 spot for operations management value this year. Located in the city of El Paso, Western Technical College El Paso is a small private for-profit university. Operations Management graduates carry a median of $21,267 in student loans. Early-career operations management graduates make about $38,468. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.